The rumor is not new. By the end of last season, it began to spread from mouth to mouth like a runrún. A possible Griezmann-João Félix barter between Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid. Now, when 2020-21 has only days left and the teams' offices are already working just thinking about the following numbers, 2021-22 comes alive. The Frenchman lived the best years of his career in the Cholo team, where he was proclaimed world champion and was on the podium of the Ballon d'Or. The Portuguese would take his place in the culé team, where they could exploit their best conditions. None of that will be possible, however. As AS has learned from Atlético sources, A poster hangs around João Félix's neck: it is non-transferable. His name is not on the market. And less for a possible exchange with Griezmann.
For the rojiblanco club, The Portuguese footballer is one of the players on which to build the future. He is only 21 years old and still everything ahead. Two seasons ago he became the most expensive signing of the club, more than 127 million were paid for him to Benfica, and, although his numbers have not been what was expected this season either (he was expected to 'explode', a la Agüero), in the Metropolitan Wanda everything is still expected from him. Injuries and especially the coronavirus have slowed him down, leaving all his talent in just sparks. But fundamental. Last Sunday, against Osasuna, for example, Atlético managed to overcome the match holding on to his boot. He entered the 66th minute for Saúl and gave temper to the ball, driving and corridors. Lodi's goal, 1-1, was born from a filtered pass that the Brazilian sent to the net. He has a contract until 2026.
Griezmann does not enter the plans
But it is not only that, that João Félix is considered future, it is also because, precisely, the name that is being considered as a substitute does not enter any rojiblanco plan. Griezmann's stage has already passed at Atlético. It was very important, yes, but it ended the moment the Frenchman decided to go to Barcelona. Two years later, there is no longer a place for him. Neither in sports (he is 30 years old) nor economically.
The Frenchman signed for Barcelona conditions that would go up season by season, 18, 18, 21, 23 and 25 million, something unaffordable at the moment for the rojiblancas coffers. No one knows better than the managers of Atlético the problems that such a salary can lead to. Due to the salary limit and because, when three seasons ago Griezmann began to receive a salary of 23 million at Atlético to avoid his departure to Barcelona, the one that would occur just a year later, the queues of the players asking for increases (Costa, for example) happened in the offices of the Metropolitan. The highest salaries in the club are around ten to twelve million, very far from the price that Griezmann has todaySo, for all these reasons, that is an impossible trade-off.